301 Mr. William Pitt on the Production and 



This 320,000 acres oFland will produce 50,000 fat oxen, or 32 acres will pro- 

 duce 5 fat oxen : suppose them 2701b. per quarter each, or 5,40olbs, of beef from 

 32 acres; this is i68|lbs. of beef per acre per annum; but a dairy will produce 

 more, and a flock of sheep well managed quite as much human food, per acre. 

 Little advantage, therefore, would be derived from this change of substituting ox'^n 

 for horses in agriculture, unless the use of horses on the road, and for purposes 

 of pleasure, luxury, pomp, amusement, trade, mining, manufactures, commerce, and 

 war, could be abolished or lessened ; an event which I suppose no friend to the 

 prosperity of this country will wish to see brought about to any great extent; as it 

 seems to be now generally understood that luxury, in a moderate degree, is a 

 principal encouragement to commerce and manufactures, and consequendy a power- 

 ful instrument of prosperity. Mr. Malihus says, " The advantages of luxury, when 

 it falls short of actual vice, are certainly great:" it cannot be denied but it contri- 

 butes to the comforts, enjoyments, and consequent happiness of a nation ; but if 

 carried too far, it will completely defeat its own purpose ; the surest way is to stop 

 short of the mark. 



Culture of wheat and grazing compared. — As I consider the culture of wheat 



to be, upon the average, one of the least profitable branches of agriculture, and to 



shew that it is an object that requires public encouragement, I shall compare the 



profit or loss arising from it, with that from grazing, as follows : 



I- s. d. 

 An acre of good grass land is supposed capable of producing half a pound 



of beef or mutton per day for a year, and is equally productive in dairy- 

 ing ; 1 82 lbs. of beef or mution, at 6d. per lb. is per acre - 4110 



Deduct Rent and taxes fi. i05. per acre - - - "| 



r2 o o 

 Interest of capital - i05. - - - - J 



Profit per acre - ^^.2 1 1 o 



The ofFal, or fifth quarter, in fat cattle or sheep, will pay all expences of care, 

 management, and repairing fences. 



